Albany County welfare fraud arrests jump 23 percent in 2012

Published 9:52 am, Friday, January 4, 2013

ALBANY — The value of welfare fraud ferreted out by the county sheriff's and social services investigators was up more than 50 percent last year, authorities said.

The total amount of fraud detected surged to $341,686.23 in 2012 from $225,044.43 the year before — a 51 percent jump, Sheriff Craig Apple said. Meanwhile, the number of arrests jumped from 30 to 37 — a 23 percent increase, Apple said.

"We have been aggressively identifying and pursuing subjects who have been cheating social services," Apple said in a statement. County Executive Dan McCoy said the goal of aggressive enforcement is to preserve the benefits for those who are truly in need.

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"When times are tough, families need a hand up, and that's why our social services programs and benefits exist," McCoy said. "Our investigators have done a tremendous job identifying those who are breaking the law so the money will be there for those who truly need it."